Limerick-Area State Rep Election: Tom Quigley Beats Joe Ciresi

LIMERICK, PA -- In one of the closest races for the state legislature in southeastern Pennsylvania, the Limerick and Royersford area, Republican Thomas Quigley defeated Democrat Joe Ciresi.

Quigley earned 14,868 votes to Ciresi's 14,198 votes to earn the seat in Pennsylvania's 146th legislative district. That came out to roughly 51.15 percent of the vote for Quigley, with 48.85 percent of the vote for Ciresi.

Unlike many state legislature races in the area which took place is decidedly Democratic or decidedly Republican districts, the race for the 146th was extremely close. Looking at the results from the election at large, that's no surprise. With a few small exceptions like Pottstown, western Montgomery County voted for Donald Trump and Pat Toomey, while eastern Montgomery County voted for Hillary Clinton and Katie McGinty.

Limerick and Royersford lie right along the electoral dividing line between red and blue in this year's election results. Limerick went for Trump, while Royersford went for Clinton.

The 146th comprises Limerick, Lower Pottsgrove, Perkiomen Township, Royersford, Trappe, and several precincts in Pottstown.

Ciresi, who lives in Limerick, had served for many years on the Spring-Ford Area School Board. He has also worked as the Director of Sales and Promotions at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Quigley, the incumbent, served in the legislature from 2005 to 2012 before being re-elected in 2014. He is the former mayor of Royersford.

A major point of contention between the two candidates was the state's fair funding formula for schools. Ciresi supported it, while Quigley opposed. Ciresi also had been very vocal about restoring passenger rail service to western Montgomery County.

>>Train Along Route 422 Is A Top Priority, Ciresi Says

Ciresi was one of 10 candidates in Pennsylvania's General Assembly which President Obama endorsed.

“I am humbled and very happy to receive his endorsement. Obama and I share a vision for a strong and prosperous middle class, a clean environment for future generations and vibrant communities,” Ciresi said.

Ciresi hinted on his Facebook page that he would consider running for office again in the future.

"Even though the outcome wasn't what I had hoped for we need to move on and look toward tomorrow," he said. "We need to stay together and continue the fight to fund our school properly, reduce our property taxes, restore commuter rail service, and to support our local communities. I look forward to what the future holds. 2018 is just around the corner."

Patch file photo.